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An illegal dump covering 22 acres of the island and containing slag and waste from the steel plant's furnaces is the ugly and dangerous legacy that has been left behind. Much of the waste there is toxic.

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has been tasked by the Government to oversee the clean-up of the dump. He says it will be done by mid-2014.

The dump at Haulbowline is less than 1km from Cobh and less than 2km from Ringaskiddy and other population bases, where progress on the clean-up has been welcomed.

The interest of the European Commission in the clean-up of this site has brought added immediacy to the project.